Rail-joint.



A. W. GILMORE.

Patehted July 31, 1.917..-

RAH. JOINT.

ATTORNEY WI TJVE S S AARON W. GILMORE, OF TYLER, TEXAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,352.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON W. GILMORE, citizen of the United States, residing at Tyler, in the county of Smith and State of Texas, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

Among the advantages claimed for my rail-joint, are; that it requires no extra plates or parts like the usual joint; that it is stronger and more durable; that it is more readily assembled and the parts are etliciently united; that only one bolt is re quired; that should the bolt become detached the joint will still remain connected; and that full provision is made for expansion and contraction.

In carrying out the invention the end of one rail is formed with a projecting base portion, an upstanding stud, and a projecting vertical web-lug; while the end of the adjacent rail is provided with an overhanging web ancl head portion formed with a socket adapted to receive the web-lug of the other rail, while the overhanging Web rests on the projecting base portion of the other rail. The overhanging web has an elongated recess in its bottom receiving the stud and said web and the lug have registering slots through which a connecting bolt is passed, the elongated recess and the slots permitting relative movement of the rails and caring for the expansion and contraction.

The invention will be more readily understood by a perusal of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the joint,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with a portion shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the end of one of the rails forming the joint, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the end of the other rail.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a tenon rail, and 2 a mortise rail. The adjacent end of each rail is formed with a laterally extending base portion 3 projecting somewhat beyond the base-flange 4; of each rail. These portions 3 register when the rails are assembled. One of the portions 3 is cut back from the end of the rail 2; while the portion 3 of the rail 1 has a liberal extension projecting longitudinally from the web and head of said rail. The portions are surmounted by a longitudinal boss 6; while the end 7 of the web of each rail is increased in thickness to strengthen the same.

When the ends of the rails are brought together the overhanging web of the rail 2 rests on the boss of the rail 1. A weblug or tenon 8 extends upward from the boss of the rail 1 and projects outward from the web. An upstanding stud 9 is provided on the outer extremity of the boss 6 over the extension 5. The lug 8 is less in thickness than the web portion 7 so as to leave shoulders 10 at each side thereof.

The extremity of the web portion 7 of the rail 2 is formed with a socket 11 of such size and shape as to snugly receive the lug 8, while the end of said portion abuts the shoulders 10. It will be seen that the parts are united in break-joint relation as the joint between the base portions 3 is off-set some distance from the joint between the portions 7 and the load at the joint is sustained by the extension 5.

The lug 8 is provided with a slot 12 and the portion 7 of the rail 2 also has slots 12 which register with the slot 12 when the parts are assembled. A bolt 13 is passed through the slots. The stud 9 engages in an elongated recess 14 in the bottom of the overhanging web portion of the rail 2. The slots and the recess permit the rails to move longitudinally and independently of each other to such a degree as to allow for extreme contraction and expansion. It will be observed that even though the bolt 13 became detached the rails could not be separated unless they were moved vertically. It is apparent that rails formed with this joint may be readily and easily assembled and fastened in place.

What I claim, is:

In a rail joint, a tenon rail having an extended base portion, an upstanding stud on the extremity of the base portion of the tenon rail, an upright lug carried on the extended base portion and integral with the web portion of the rail, in combination with a mortise rail having a base portion out back from its end and an overhanging Web of the lug, the mortise Web and the tenon portion. ha ing a socket receiving the lug lug having registering slots, and a bolt of the tenon rail, the base portion of the passed through all the slots, the overhang- 10 mortise rail abutting the extended base of ing Web portion having an elongated recess 5 the tenon over which the Web of the mortise in its bottom receiving the stud.

rail rests, the Web of the mortise rail abut- In testimony WhereofI aflix my signature. ting the Web of the tenon rail on each side AARON W. GILMORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.? 

